National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has turned down the Excellence in Leadership award set to be conferred on him by the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES).

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Basiru alleged that the Osun State Government manipulated the NES following the abrupt postponement of the award ceremony. He described the move as a result of undue political interference orchestrated by the state administration.

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The NES, in a letter dated April 7, 2025, signed by its Chairman, Prof. Adeleke G. Aremo, and Secretary, Adewale Sam-Aliyu, had informed Basiru of the postponement of the event initially scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2025. The letter cited “unexpected turn of events, logistic and security complexities” as reasons for the decision. No alternative date was provided.

Rejecting the award, Basiru, through a letter signed by his Special Adviser on Legal and Political Strategy, Barrister Othuke Amata Aso, said the society had compromised the integrity of the recognition.

He lambasted the NES for what he termed unprofessional handling of the cancellation notice, calling the letter “convoluted” and “hastily prepared,” and faulted the society’s communication approach.

Basiru expressed disappointment at the sudden cancellation of the ceremony, criticizing the April 7 letter for its lack of coherence and clarity, and accused the society of hiding behind semantics by calling it a “postponement.”

He alleged that the real reason for the development was external interference, specifically from the Osun State Government. According to him, credible sources within the NES confirmed that pressure came directly from Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“The real reason for this shameful retreat is the undue pressure and shenanigans exerted by the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, on the leadership of your society,” Basiru stated.

The APC scribe accused the Adeleke-led government of mediocrity and political vindictiveness, claiming that the move reflects the state administration’s lack of regard for merit and excellence.

Basiru, who admitted that he was initially skeptical about accepting the award due to his reservations about honorary recognitions, said he only agreed after encouragement from friends and colleagues.

However, in light of recent developments, he has now rejected the award outright, describing the actions of the NES Osun Chapter as a “stain on its reputation” and a betrayal of the values the society claims to uphold.

He advised the NES to find a way to restore its credibility and rise above external political pressures, asserting that true merit should not be “subverted by the whims of those in power.”

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Stakeholders in Bauchi State, a political group operating under the aegis of Bauchi South Concern Citizens Movement and some pressure groups has advocated for Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to succeed Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who is currently serving out his second tenure on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

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Tuggar, a Minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration is from the Northern zone of the State which they said has not produced Governor since 1999.

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The group which is an arm of the All Progressives Congress in a meeting in Bauchi to chart a way forward for governorship of APC fold, said, the ticket should be reserved for someone from the northern zone of the State.

The group tipped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar from the northern zone of the State as properly fit to fly the governorship flag of APC in 2027 and urged him to aspire for the plum job.

Abudullahi Usman Matori, a chieftain of the APC and an elder statesman, speaking in the meeting on Monday, maintained that Bauch South has been producing governors since 1999 and it would be justified that the narrative should change in 2027 in the interest of justice and fairness.

He urged the party to work with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the northern zone produce the next governor as the State was not meant to be governed by people from the Southern zone alone.

“Our concern now is to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure success of Tuggar candidature in the APC and how the party will win the seat,” he said.

“For political fairness and inclusivity, the next Governor of the State should come from another zone, particularly the Bauchi North Zone, the seat is not for Bauchi South alone”.

He further adduced reasons for the choice of President Bola Tinubu’s Minister as saying that there was need to focus of the realization of Kafin Zaki Dam, exploration of oil in Kolmani, completion of the Waya Hydro power dam and other developmental projects which he added were strategic to the economic prosperity of the nation and the State.

Another Speaker, Bala Juwara and other stakeholders who spoke on the pedigree of Yusuf Maitama Tuggar were unanimous on his capacity to govern the State.

According to him, “Yusuf Maitama Tuggar in all the political offices he has held from Member of Representatives, Ambassador and presently, Minister has done so well for every segment of the State though he is from the Bauchi North Senatorial Zone.”

He urged members of the Group to embark on door to door consultantion and mobilization to ensure that he answered the call and declare interest in the gubernatorial ticket of the APC.

Also speaking, a former Chairperson of Bogoro LGC, Hon Simon Taimako commended the leadership of the group particularly in regards to uniting the people of the State irrespective of ethno-religious and political differences.

He declared his support for the call on Maitama Tuggar to aspire for the APC gubernatorial ticket stressing that he is the most qualified among the aspirants so far.

In her contribution, Hajiya Maimuna joined the call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to declare his aspirations for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC for 2027 stressing that he is most qualified for the seat.

She however lamented that women should not be neglected after the objective must have been achieved assuring that women will embark on massive mobilization to ensure that the Minister answered the call.

Chairman of Bauchi South Concern Citizens Movement, Musa G Khalid explained that the movement was formed in order to promote unity and peaceful coexistence in the State through relationship.

He stressed that, it is only fair to allow other zones of the State, particularly the North to produce the next Governor of the state stating that the Bauchi South Senatorial District has produced all the Governors since 1999.
Musa Khalid stressed that the person fitted for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC in 2027 is Yusuf Maitama Tuggar considering the fact that he is loved by all segments of the State.

According to him, “We in the group are convinced that Maitama Tuggar is most qualified to govern Bauchi State, his political pedigree is unequalled among his counterparts.”

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The Coalition for Good Governance and Transparency in Nigeria, in partnership with Advocates for Social Justice, has accused some political actors—both past and present—from Benue State of orchestrating the persistent insecurity plaguing the state.

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Speaking during a world press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, the group’s Chief Convener, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, alleged that the security crisis intensified following a judgment by the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal in favor of elected councilors from seven local government areas in the Benue North West Senatorial District (Zone B).

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According to Ude-Umanta, certain politicians, angered by the tribunal’s ruling, are inciting violence in the state and attempting to extend the unrest to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He claimed that these individuals aim to destabilize the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and undermine democratic institutions.

The group, however, called on security agencies to go after serial killers, and investigate cult groups and other actors being used to perpetrate violence in the state.

“Since the day the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal delivered judgment in favour of the elected councilors from the seven local government areas of Benue North West Senatorial District, zone B, hell has been let loose in Benue. Everyday, there are pockets of killings which we believe are being sponsored by some national assembly members who constitute themselves as enemies of the State.

“It is worrisome that people who are elected to serve the people are the ones also killing them indirectly, just to score political points. What will the people gain if they continue to lose their loved ones because you want a state of emergency declared in your own State. These rascals must be stopped. Do they think that Nigerians would fold their arms and watch these few elements pull down the Country?

“We call on the security agencies to immediately go after the serial killers in Benue state. Street and campus cults are being used while they would blame it on the State Governor for failing to provide security even though they know fully well that the State Governors do not have control over security matters in Nigeria but the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“These same characters will boldly tell the world that they are supporting Mr President yet, they are bastardizing his administration and secretly sponsoring insecurity in Benue State.

“We wish to raise this alarm, and calling on all relevant security agencies that some disgruntled persons from Benue State, among them is a former APC Chairman, some serving National Assembly members and some appointees of Mr. President are currently mobilising more than twenty thousand people for a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in a bid to cause another chaos in the country. This must not be allowed.

“They orchestrated pockets of killings in Benue and they want to amplify it in the FCT through a mass protest and cause civil unrest in the Nigeria seat of power. The security agencies should immediately investigate and charge anyone found involved with treasonable felony, no matter how highly placed they are before it is too late.

“We urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to watch his back as the people in question are around the government and they have access to funds and could do anything just to prove a point. Mr President sir, your enemies are within you but you shall overcome all animosity. They are people who have access to security and huge stolen funds which could be used against anyone or authority.

“Mr. President must know that his government is being attacked by the same people he appointed into sensitive positions, in the guise of getting at the Executive Governor of Benue State, the working governor.

“We know and they know, that the only thing they could do is to cause civil unrest and cause more death and hardship on Benue communities and Nigeria at large just to give the government a bad image.

“The Inspector General of Police must not take this information for granted as the days are near. The Police must be seen working just like the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria is working.

“To this end, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately deflate the powers in Abuja backing civil unrest in Benue State even if they are top government officials in the Renewed Hope Administration”, the group stated.

The group also criticized the judiciary, alleging judicial misconduct by Justice Maurice Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, and Justice M.M. Adamu of the FCT High Court. They accused the judges of issuing conflicting and controversial rulings on the relocation of the Benue Local Government Election Tribunal to Abuja, in contravention of Benue electoral laws.

The group said it is assured that its petition against the judges is receiving attention.

Ude-Umanta commended some members of the tribunal, particularly Justice D.E. Igoh, Evelyn Ngodoo Esq., and Adamu Stephen Jime Esq., for upholding judicial integrity despite political pressure.

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